Control head packer



July 13, 1943.

R. E. FULKERsoN 2,323,989

CONTROL HEAD PACKER Filed Nov. 4, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l dwg. 2. ff v 2f .wg 3. of 23 47 47 `.4 L |1 2/ 46 /6 2/ /23 j Q /cf 3 f H July 13, 1943.- R E, FULKERSON 2,323,989

CONTROL HEAD PAGKER Filed Nov. 4, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MSG AL WWA W AV AW 4\\\ INVENTOR ATTO R N EY July 13, 1943. R. E. FULKERSON CONTROL HEAD PACKER Filed Nov. 4, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ENTOR July 13, 1943- R. E. FULKERsoN CONTROL HEAD PACKER Filed Nov. 4, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTOREY Patented July 13, 1943 CONTROL HEAD PACKER Richard E. Fulkerson, Coffeyville, Kans., as-

signor to The Exner-Dodge Packer Company, Coffeyville, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,209

Claims.

This invention relates to packers, particularly those used for facilitating flow of a well under formation pressure. Usually it is necessary to run and set packers of this character against well pressures and through liquid standing in or ilowing through the Well casing. Since these packers must closely conform to the cross-sectional area or the casing in which they are set, there is insumcient room between the packer and the casing for by-passing the Well fluids and pressures, consequently the packers are difcult 'to set. Various forms of tubing disk packers have been provided for this purpose but they have not proved satisfactory for the reason that the hypassed fluids contain large quantities of granular and slimy material which collects upon the seating surfaces of the valve elements and prevent lproper sealing thereof so that leakage'occurs the packer is set.

'it is, thereiore, a principal object oi the preaent invention to provide a packer of this characeeuipped with a valve structure which is eii'ective and positive in operation in that it is self-cleaning incidental to the wiping action of the movable element of the valve relatively to the lined element.

it is also an object ci the invention to provide a packer with means which gives sufficiently large ley-pass capacity so that the packer is readily lowered through the well fluids and pressures.

.another object or the invention is to provide .a valve assembly that permits of swabbing or whing of the well through the tubing and zer.

accomplishing these and other objects or the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, l have provided improved details of structure, the pres lerred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

l is e. vertical section through a portion well showing a packer embodying the features of the invention as it appears when set in the well casing.

Fig. 2 is a similar but slightly enlarged section showing the packer being lowered through the well casing, parts of the packer being broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the packer in set position.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through vthe packer on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the lugs on the well tubing in `latched. engagement with the bayonet slots of the packer body.

Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line 5-5 of Fig; 3 showing the position of the lugs moved from latched position as when the packer is set.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken through the slip carrier on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the control elements of the packer on the line 1--1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through a portion of a Well showing a modified form of packer being run into the well.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the modified form of packer in set position.

Fig. l0 is a vertical section through a portion of a well showing a further modified form of the invention wherein a control valve unit s connected with a conventional type packer, the packer being shown as set in the well casing and the valve closed.

Fig. ll is a vertical section through the modified form of the invention showing the apparatus being lowered through the well casing.

Fig. l2 is a similar section showing the appa-4 ratus in set position and the control valve closed.

Fig. lil is a similar section but showing the control valve, open.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the parts of the control valve in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. l5 is an enlarged cross-section on the line lE--i of Fig. l1.

Fig. i6 is an enlarged cross-section on the line iiiit of Fig. l1.

Fig. i7 isa cross-section on the line Il-Il of Fig. l2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates a packer constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a tubular body il having threaded ends 3 and. and an intermediate, cone-shaped collar 5. The base of the collar 5 forms a shoulder 6 for seating the lower end of a packing unit l. The packing unit 'l includes a resilient, sleeve-like body t engaged over the upper end of the packer body and having its lower end secured thereto in abutting relation with the shoulder 6 by a wrapping 9.

rlllhe packing unit also includes a sleeve I0 substantially conforming in diameter to the packing sleeve 8, and which is freely slidable upon the body of the packer. The sleeve ill preferably has a reduced neck portion Il engaging within the upper end of the packing sleeve 8 and to which the packing is attached by a wrapping I2 as shown in Fig. 2. The inner surface of the sleeve I0 is recessed, as at I3, intermediate the ends thereof, to form an inner, annular stop shoulder I4 adapted to be engaged by lugs I5 that project radially from a tubing section I6, and through bayonet slots I1 in the body of the packer. The bayonet slots I'I are arranged so that the elongated portions I8 thereof extend parallel with the axis of the packer and with the enlarged portions I9 thereof uppermost to provide lug latching shoulders 20 against which the lugs I5 will seat when the packer is run into a well, as later described.

The packing unit including the resilient packing element 8 and sleeve I0, is retained in position on the packer body by a ring 2| engaging the threads 3 and contacting the upper end of the sleeve I as shown in Fig. 2. The tubing section I6 extends axially Ithrough the body of the packer and is of smaller diameter to form an annular passageway 22 therebetween which extends from the top to the bottom of the packer to form a by-pass for the well fluids through which the packer is to be lowered. The ends oi. the tubing section carry couplings 23 and 24 whereby the packer is connected to adjacent sections 25 and 26 of a tubing string, with which the packer is lowered into the well and which forms a ilow passage for the well fluid when the packer is set.

The face portion 2'I of the conical collar 5 tapers downwardly toward the tubular body of the packer to wedge slips 28 against the wall of the casing when the packer is to be set. 'I'he slips 28 are supported in sliding contact with the wedging surface 21 of the collar 5 by flexible arms 29 having their lower ends attached to a carrier sleeve 30 which is slidably mounted upon the body portion of the packer. The carrier 30 includes a sleeve having bow-shaped springs 3I fixed to the periphery thereof for frictionally engaging the wall of a casing so as to support the slips and resist rotation of the carrier when the packer is to be set. The lower end of the carrier sleeve is shaped to provide hooks 32 having pin engaging seats 33 at the base of arcuately extending slots 34 opening from the sides of the hooks to seat pins 35 projecting from the body portion of the packer.

The pins 35 are so related with respect to the slip wedging face that when the pins are engaged with the seats of the hooks the slips are in contracted position and the teeth 36 thereof correspond with the circumference of the packing unit so that the packer may be readily lowered through a given sized casing. Mounted on the lower end of the packer body and engaging the threads 4 is a bushing 3'I having threaded connection with a depending sleeve 38 that preferably conforms in diameter to the packing unit and has an inwardly extending annular shoulder 39 spaced from the lower end thereof to form a packing seat 40. Fixed to the periphery of the coupling 24 is a tubular valve member 4I that is adapted to move through the collar 39 and which has a plurality of openings 42 spaced circumferentially and so located that when the hooks 32 are engaged with the pins 35 and the lugs I5 engaged with the seats 20 of the bayonet slots, the openings are above the collar 39, whereby well fluid entering the lower opening 43 of the valve member and around the tubing may pass freely through the openings into the interior of the sleeve 38, and through the passageway 22 to the top of the packer.

Sleeved over the lower end of the valve member and engaging the seat is a sleeve-like packing 44 retained in sealing contact with the valve member by a packing gland 45 which is rotatable about the valve member and threadedly engaged in the lower end of the sleeve 38, Whereby a seal is effected between the periphery of the valve member and its cooperating sleeve 38. The packing element 44 is of suilicient length and located so that when the hooks 32 are disengaged from the pins 35 and the lugs I5 move to the lower portion of the bayonet slots, the openings 42 will be closed by the packing or will have moved therethrough so' that the packing seals with the valve-element above the openings as shown in Fig. 3, thereby shutting oi! now of well fluid to the passageway 22 by way of the openings 42.

In using a packer constructed and assembled as described, and assuming that it is of proper diameter tobe lowered through a given size casing 48 of a weil hole 4'I, the couplings 24 and 23 are connected between adjacent sections of a well tubing so that the packer may be run into the well. As soon as the packer enters the open upper end of the casing it substantially fills the well casing, but the well iluids are free to ilow through the packer by way of the open end 43 of the valve member, openings 42, the passageway between the valve member and the packing carrying member, and passageway 22 to the top of the packer. It is thus obvious that any fluids or pressure trapped below the packer have free access therethrough and the packer may be readily lowered through the well to setting position. When the packer is being lowered through the well the arch-shaped springs 3l frictionally engage the inner face of the casing so that when the packer reaches setting position the springs frictionally support the anchoring slips during manipulation of the tubing, whereby the pins 35 are disengaged with the hooks 32 and the lugs I5 from the latching shoulders 20. This is effected by rotating the tubing to the right so that the lugs I5 are in position to enter the elongated p0rtions of the bayonet slots and the pins pass through the arcuate slots 34 of the hooks. Lowering of the tubing 25 then causes the lugs to move downwardly in the elongated portions of the bayonet slots to engage the shoulder I4 of the sleeve I0, whereupon the body of the packer is again moved downwardly with the tubing so that the wedging portion of the collar 5 forces the slips into anchoring engagement with the Wall of the casing and further downward movement of the packer body is interrupted as soon as the slips engage so that further lowering of the tubing causes the lugs I5 to expand the packing sleeve 'I radially into sealing relation with the wall of the casing, as shown in Fig. 3. During relative movement of the tubing with respect to the body of the packer, the openings 42 are carried into the packing sleeve 44 so that flow is interrupted therethrough and the packer is eiective in packing olf well fluid from flowing between the well tubing and the casing, therefore, any pressure carried in the formation acts upon the well fluid to effect dow thereof through the tubing.

Should any gritty or slimy material contained in the well flow become deposited upon the valve member 4I during setting of the packer, it will be readily removed from the exterior surface thereof as it slides through the collar 38 and packing 44, and therefore will not interfere with effective Contact of the packing sleeve with the periphery of the valve member. Since the openings have passed into or through the packing, as shown in Fig 3, they are eiIectively closed thereby and no leakage can take place through the body of the packer.

The modified form of packer construction is substantially the same as that illustrated in the preferred form with the exception that the valve elements of the packer are mounted at the head of the packer rather than the lower end thereof. This is effected by reversing the bushing 31 with respect to the retaining ring 2I. A packing carlaterally from the body 51 of the packer.

rying sleeve 48 is threadedly supported on the bushing and extends upwardly about the periphery of the tubing section 48. The upper end of the sleeve 48 therefore carries the annular seating shoulder 58 through which the tubular valve member di is slidably supported. The valve member il is attached to thetubing coupling il? and has its skirt portion depending through the collar e. The packing element 83 is engaged in the space between the valve member 8l and retained against its seat by a packing gland Sil threaded into the upper end of the sleeve member it. When the valve elements are in open position, that is, when the packing element and slips of the packer are in retracted position, the openings 55 are positioned above the packing gland, as shown in Fig. 8. However, when the packer is set, as described in connection with the preferred form of the invention, the valve meniber 5i is moved relatively to the packing 5t so that the openings 55 are closed thereby to prevent flow through the body of the packer.

The form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 10 to 17, inclusive, utilizes a conventional packer which in the illustrated instance is a hook wall packer 56. The packer includes a tubular body 5l forming a passageway 5S. Threaded upon the upper end of the body 51 is a coupling 80 having an internal annular thread 8i to connect a tubing or the like, as in customary practice. The coupling 88 has a flange to which the ends of a packing sleeve 62 are connected by a wrapping 63, the packing sleeve being engaged over the tubular body 51. Also sleeved on the body 81 is a collar 58 tapering downwardly to form a Wedge 64 for moving slips 65 outwardly into gripping engagement with the inner surface of the casing 48. This collar also has a flange to which the lower end of the packing sleeve is secured by a wrapping 53. The slips 85 are supported by flexible arms 88, having their lower ends attached to a carrier sleeve 61 which is slidable upon the lower body portion oi the packer. The carrier has bow-shaped springs 68 fixed to the periphery thereof for frictionally engaging the wall oi the casing, sc as to support the slips and resist rotation of the carrier when the packer is to be set. The lower end of the carrier sleeve is provided with hooks 69 having pin engaging seats at the base of slots 1i opening from the sides of the hooks to seat pins 12 projecting The pins 12 are positioned with respect to the wedge Gt .so that when the pins are engaged with the seats of the hooks, the slips are in retracted position at the bottom of the wedge and the teeth thereof are within the circumference of the packing unit so that the packer may be freely lowered through a given size casing.

Connected with the coupling 6@ is a nipple 13 to which a. valve assembly 'it is connected. The valve assembly includes a sleeve-like `body 'it having a lower cylindrical portion 1t connected with the nipple 18 and having an upper reduced neck portion or guide 1l slidably engaging the lower end of a tubing 18 by which the apparatus is lowered into the well. Projecting outwardly from opposite diametrical sides of the tubing 18 are lugs 18, similar to the lugs l5 previously described, and which project through bayonet slots 88 that are formed longitudinally in the guide 11. The bayonet slots 88 are ar-l ranged so that the elongated portions 8l thereof extend parallel with the axis of the packer, and

vide lug latching shoulders 83 against which the lugs 19 seat when the packer is being run into the weil, as later described.

Threaded on the lower end of the tubing 15, and located within the enlarged portion "1lb, is a coupling 84 which connects a lower tubing sec tion 8in' that extends through the sleeve-like body oi the packer as shown in Fig. il. ldiounted on the coupling 8d is a packing sleeve ESG, which is retained thereon by rings di and @il which are threaded on the ends of the coupling to expand the packing sleeve into sealing contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical body liti. Formed in the wall of the cylindrical body, at a point below the lowermost ring lill, is a plurality oi iluid outlet openings 88 which are open when the lugs 19 are engaged in the enlarged portions ci the bayonet slots and closed by packing sleeve 88 when the lugs 'ill are moved downwardly in the elongated portions ot" the bayonet slots to close flow through the packer.

In assembling the valve unit, the section of tubing 18 is slipped through the neck portion or guide 11 of the valve body 15 and threaded into the coupling sleeve 34 which carries the pack= ing sleeve 86. The tubing sleeve 18 is then moved retractively to bring the lowermost packing retaining ring 88 above the openings 8d. The lugs 191 are then inserted through the enlarged poru tions of the bayonet slots and welded to the tubing section 18.

In using the control valve just described, it is attached to the nipple 13 oi the packer 55. When it is desirable to run tubing 85 below the packer, it is threaded into the coupling sleeve 88. The assembly is then lowered through the casing of the well with the lugs 19 engaging the shoulders 83 and the pins 12 of the hook wall packer engaging the seats 18. In this position the packing sleeve 88 is retained above the openings 88 and the slips are in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 11, so that the assembly may be readily lowered into the well against any fluid or pressure contained therein. During lowering of the packer, the uid is passed through the tubular body of the packer and transferred through the openn ings 89 into the interior of the casing. When assembly reaches the point at which the packer is to be set, the tubing 18 is rotated to move the lugs 19 so that they engage the sides of the bayonet slots opposite the shoulders 88, whereupon the lugs pick up the tubular body of the valve and move it in a corresponding direction. Since the springs 88 of the slip carrier are frictionally ein gaged with the walls of the casing, the slips and slip carrier lag, and the pins 12 are moved out ci engagement with the seats 10 oi the hooks The packer is then set by moving the tubing downwardly so that the lugs 19 acting against the bottoms or the slots 8l exert a downen-ard movement on the body oi the packer, causing the wedge Bt to move into the slips and force them outwardly into gripping engagement with the wall of the casing. Upon setting of the slips, ther downward movement compresses the packing sleeve 82 between the collar 5d and the coupling 60, and forces it outwardly into sealing Upon setting of the packer, the packing 88 on the tubing slides over the openings tc close off flow through the packer. If desired, dow may be again effected through the packer by raising the tubing so that the packing sleeve 88 returns to the position .shown in Fig. 11. The weight of the the enlarged portions 82 extend arcuately to pro- 75 tubing may again be established on the packer by rotating the tubing so that the lugs 19 engage the shoulder 83.

`When washing the well, it may be desirable to reestablish ow through the packer while the packer is in set position. 'I'his is readily effected by returning the tubing to its original position so that the movable element of the valve uncovers the openings 89 as shown in Fig. 13. The friction of the slips and the packer on the wall of the casing is greater than that between the valve elements so that the packer retains its set position during movement of the tubing. However, if it is desired to remove the packer, further upward movement of the tubing causes the lugs 19 to pick up the valve unit which, being connected with the packer, disengages the packing sleeve from the casing and removes the slip wedge from engagement with the slips. Reverse rotation of the tubing then imparts a similar rotation to the packer to reengage the pins 12 with the hook of the packer so that the assembly unit may be withdrawn from the well.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 17 may be used in connection with an anchor packer as well as the hook wall packer illustrated. The invention functions the same with exception of the difference in setting the packer, as in a hook wall packer setting is eifected by a stand of pipe suspended from the packer. When the lower end of the stand engages the bottom of the well and the weight of the tubing above the packer is applied to the upper end of the rubber sleeve to compress the sleeve therebetween, the relative movement between the tubing and packer causes closing of the openings 89 as in the instance above described.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a packer with a control valve which may be readily lowered through the well casing against well pressure and fluids and when set, positively eiectsclosure of the flow passages through the valve elements.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A control head for a packer having a tubular body to relieve pressure below the packer when running and setting the packer in a Well, a sleeve member having ports intermediate the ends thereof, a valve member having sliding contact with the sleeve member, a tubing, means connecting one of said members with the tubing and the other with the tubular body member of the packer, a tubing guide encircling the tubing with the tubing extending slidably therethrough and having a longitudinal slot provided with a notch at the upper end thereof, and a lug on said tubing adapted to engage in said notch when running in and setting the packer to support the valve member from covering relation with said ports, said lug being movable into said slot responsive to partial rotation and longitudinal movement of the tubing to bring the valve member in valving relationto said ports.

2. A control for a packer having a tubular body for relieving pressure below the packer when running and setting the packer in a well, a sleeve member adapted to be threadedly connected with said tubular body of the packer and having ports intermediate the ends thereof, a piston type valve slidable in said sleeve member from a position above said ports to a position closing flow from the tubular body of the packer through said ports, a tubing guide on said sleeve member having a longitudinal slot provided with a lateral notch at its upper end, a tubing extend- Cil ing slidably through said guide and having a. lower end connected with said piston type valve. and a lug projecting from said tubing and engageable in said notch to prevent relative movement of the tubing and sleeve member when running and setting the packer and movable out of said notch into the slot for permitting the tubing to be shifted relative to the packer for causing the piston type valve to move in valving relation to said ports.

3. A control for a packer having a tubular body for relieving pressure below the packer when running the packer into a well, a sleeve member adapted to be threadedly connected with said tubular body of the packer and having ports intermediate the ends thereof, a piston type valve slidable in said sleeve member from a position above said ports to a position closing flow through the tubular body through said ports, a reduced neck on said sleeve member forming a tubing guide and having a longitudinal slot provided with a lateral notch at its upper end, a tubing extending slidably through said neck and into the sleeve member to connect with said piston type valve, and a lug projecting laterally from a side of said tubing and engageable in said notch to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the tubing and sleeve member when running and setting the packer and movable out of said notch into the slot for permitting the tubing to be shifted relative to the packer for causing the piston type valve to move in closing relation to said ports.

4. A control for a packer having a tubular body for relieving pressurebelow the packer when running in and setting the packer in a welll a sleeve member adapted to be threadedly connected with said tubular body and having ports intermediate the ends thereof, a tubing guide on said sleeve member and having a longitudinal slot provided with a notch at the upper end thereof, a tubing extending slidably through said guide and terminating within the tubular body, a sleevelike valve body threaded on the terminal end of said tubing, a packing sleeve on said valve body and having sliding contact with the sleeve member, said valve body having an internally threaded lower end for connecting a continuation of said tubing, and a lug on said tubing engageable in said notch to support the tubing in fixed longitudinal relation with the packer during running in and setting thereof and shiftable into said slot to permit movement of the tubing relative to said packer to bring the packing sleeve into valving relation with said ports.

5. A control for a packer having a tubular body for relieving pressure below the packer when running and setting the packer in a well, a tubing extending through the packer, a tubing guide carried by the packer and having a longitudinal slot provided at its upper end with a lateral notch, a lug on the tubing and seated in said notch, a sleeve member adapted for connection with one end of the packer, and a sleeve member iixed to the tubing and having sliding support in the sleeve member, one of said sleeve members having ports and the other a packing slidably engaging the ported sleeve member to close flow through the ports when the lug is moved from said notch and shifted downwardly through said slot upon partial rotation and downward movement of the tubing relatively to the packer.

RICHARD E. FULKERSON. 

